End the perilous space shuttle program

Thursday

Aug 23, 2007 at 12:15 AMAug 23, 2007 at 12:47 AM

I grew up watching "Space Shots." My boyhood heroes were the likes of Glenn, Shepard and Grissom. They all went knowing that all possible safety precautions had been taken and yet the rocket could explode on the pad anyway.

Editor, the Record:

I grew up watching "Space Shots." My boyhood heroes were the likes of Glenn, Shepard and Grissom. They all went knowing that all possible safety precautions had been taken and yet the rocket could explode on the pad anyway.

However, now, and for 20 years we have had, a completely flawed program, the Space Shuttle. Until this flawed system we had never lost anyone in space, but because of it we've lost 14. Seven on Challenger, seven on Columbia. All preventable, all inexcusable, all criminal. Go figure.

I know now that once again the powers that be have put in jeopardy Endeavor.

That the president, all Congress persons and senators should ground the Shuttle program now and permanently. 2010 is too far off, and we will lose tragically more than we've already lost.

God willing, these seven will be able to repair the damage to Endeavor and return safely. However, no more space shuttle missions. Space shuttles should now be cancelled, the two remaining shuttles be given to museums, and shown as the totally flawed system that they were.

One last thing, the criminal Karl Rove leaves the White House on Aug. 31. This ultra-right wing Republican water carrier will show up again as "a political" adviser. I truly hope that when he shows up in any campaign, that the person does not get elected or re-elected.